Process and apparatus for cutting hog carcasses

Abstract

A process and apparatus for automatically and continuously cutting hog carcasses into primal cuts includes means for moving the hog carcasses in a predetermined path of travel. The carcasses are first separated into carcass sides and are conveyed on adjustable support mechanisms. Optical scanning devices view each primal cut portion of each carcass to locate a reference structure on the primal cut portion. The scanned reference structure is compared to a programmed cut pattern by a computer which controls operation of a plurality of cutting devices. The cutting devices are adjusted in response to the comparison of the scanned reference structure of the primal cut with the pre-programmed cut pattern. The computer program will include many cut patterns for each primal cut. The computer may be programmed daily, or in more frequent intervals, to select a particular cut pattern for each primal cut. The computer selects the desired cut pattern which has been predetermined for that particular time. Each cutting device is operable for cutting a specific primal cut in conformity to the programmed cut pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for continuous mechanized controlled cutting of hog carcass sides into primal cuts including the hind foot, ham, front foot, shoulder, loin, ribs, and belly, said process comprising the steps of: selecting a cut pattern for each of the primal cut portions of each specific hog carcass side in accordance with the size, dimensions, grade, and other information regarding each carcass side,   continuously moving hog carcass sides in predetermined paths of travel, and, during said travel first moving each carcass side from a suspended vertical position to a horizontal position for support of each carcass side upon one of a plurality of movable angularly adjustable horizontal support media, then optically scanning each primal cut portion. including the hind foot, ham, front foot, shoulder, loin, ribs, and belly in a predetermined sequence with one of a plurality of optic scanning media, each optic scanning medium locating a reference structure on the particular primal cut portion being scanned,   comparing the scanned reference structure of the hind foot, ham, front foot, shoulder, loin, ribs, and belly in said predetermined sequence with a pre-programmed cut pattern for the particular primal cut portion,   mechanically shifting one of a plurality of cutting media and angularly adjusting each support media in said predetermined sequence and in response to each comparison of the scanned reference structure with the pre-programmed cut pattern for the hind foot, ham, front foot, and shoulder,   and, after the mechanical adjustment of each cutting medium and angular adjustment of the support media, cutting each primal cut portion of each carcass side in said predetermined sequence and in accordance with said pre-programmed cut pattern to cut the hind foot, ham, front foot, and shoulder from the carcass side.   
     
     
       2. The process as defined in claim 1 wherein the hind foot, ham, front foot, and shoulder are cut from each carcass side during movement of the latter in the predetermined path of travel before the loin, ribs, and belly are cut from the carcass side. 
     
     
       3. The process as defined in claim 2 and continuing movement of each carcass side after the hind foot, ham, front foot, and shoulder have been cut therefrom, and then mechanically shifting each right carcass side to one path of travel and mechanically shifting each left carcass to a second path of travel, and thereafter cutting the loin, ribs, and belly from each carcass side. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for continuous mechanized controlled cutting of carcass sides into primal cuts including the hind foot, ham, front foot, shoulder, loin, ribs, and belly, said apparatus comprising: means for selecting cut patterns for each primal cut portion of each carcass side in accordance with the size and dimension of each specific carcass side,   conveyor means for moving carcass sides through a predetermined path of travel including a plurality of horizontally disposed, angularly adjustable support mechanisms, means for angularly adjusting each support mechanism relative to the path of travel in response to each comparison of the scanned reference structure with the pre-programmed cut pattern for each hind foot, ham, front foot, and shoulder,   a plurality of adjustable cutting devices positioned adjacent said conveyor means, said cutting devices being disposed in spaced apart relation with respect to each other along the predetermined path of travel, each cutting device being operable to cut a primal cut from a carcass side including the hind foot, the ham, front foot, shoulder, loin, ribs, and belly,   a plurality of optical scanning devices positioned adjacent said conveyor means, said scanning devices being positioned in spaced apart relation with respect to each other along the predetermined path of travel, each optical scanning device being operable to locate a reference structure on one of the primal cuts including the hind foot, ham, front foot, shoulder, loin, ribs, and belly,   and means for comparing the optically scanned reference structure with the pre-proqrammed cut pattern for each primal cut, said comparing means being operatively related to said cutting devices in controlling relation therewith, said comparing means being operable to adjust the position of each cutting device and to operate the latter in response to said comparison means whereby each cutting device will cut a primal cut portion from the carcass side in conformity with the pre-programmed cut pattern.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said support mechanisms are interconnected together. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said support mechanisms is pivotal about a vertical axis relative to the direction of travel thereof. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said optical scanning devices are positioned above said conveyor means. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for continuous mechanized controlled cutting of hog carcasses into primal cuts which include the hind foot, ham, front foot, shoulder, loin, ribs, and belly, comprising: means for conveying hog carcasses in a predetermined path of travel including a first conveyor device, each hog carcass being suspended from said first conveyor device by a gambrel which penetrates the hind foot of each carcass,   an inclined support positioned in confronting relation with said first conveyor device whereby each carcass is engaged by said inclined support to shift each carcass from a vertical to a horizontal position,   skin cutting means on said inclined support for cutting the strip of skin extending between the shoulder portions of each carcass,   cord cutting means adjacent said first conveyor means cutting the skin adjacent the gambrel to release the hog carcasses from the latter,   a second conveyor device adjacent said inclined means and including a plurality of interconnected adjustable support mechanisms, each support mechanism supporting a carcass side in horizontal relation thereon when each carcass is cut by said skin cutting means and said cord cutting means,   a plurality of adjustable cutting devices positioned adjacent said conveyor means, said cutting devices being disposed in spaced apart relation with respect to each other and each being operable to cut a primal cut from a carcass side including the hind foot, ham, front foot, shoulder, loin, ribs, and belly,   a plurality of optical scanning devices positioned adjacent said second conveyor means, each optical scanning device being operable to locate the reference structure on one of the primal cuts including the hind foot, ham, front foot, shoulder, loin, ribs, and belly,   and means for comparing the optically scanned reference structure with the pre-programmed cut pattern for each primal cut, said comparing means being operatively related to said cutting devices and in controlling relation therewith, said comparing means being operable to adjust the position of each cutting device and to operate the latter in response to said comparison means whereby each cutting device will cut a primal cut portion from the carcass side in conformity with the pre-programmed cut pattern.   
     
     
       9. A process for continuous mechanized controlled cutting of hog carcasses into primal cuts including the hind foot, ham, front foot, shoulder, loin, ribs, and belly, said process comprising the steps of: continuously moving chilled eviscerated hog carcasses through a predetermined path of travel, each hog carcass including a pair of carcass sides joined together by a strip of skin extending between the shoulder portions of each carcass, each carcass being suspended from an overhead trolley by a gambrel penetrating the hind feet of each carcass,   moving the lower portion of each hog carcass against an inclined surface to progressively shift each carcass from a vertical position to a horizontal position, and during said shifting movement of each carcass cutting the flesh of each hind foot of each carcass adjacent the gambrel and cutting the strip of skin adjoining the carcass sides whereby each carcass side is horizontally positioned upon one of a plurality of movable supporting media during the movement of said carcasses in said predetermined path of travel,   continuing the movement of each carcass side in the predetermined path of travel and during said travel of each carcass side optically scanning each primal cut portion including the hind foot, ham, front foot, shoulder, loin, ribs, and belly in a predetermined sequence with one of a plurality of optic scanning media, each optic scanning medium locating a reference structure on the particular primal cut portion being scanned,   comparing the scanned reference structure of the hind foot, ham, front foot, shoulder, loin, ribs, and belly in said predetermined sequence with a pre-programmed cut pattern for the particular primal cut portion,   and mechanically shifting one of a plurality of cutting media in said predetermined sequence and in response to each comparison of the scanned reference structure with the pre-programmed cut pattern for each primal cut portion, and after each mechanical adjustment of each cutting medium, cutting each primal cut portion of each carcass side in said predetermined sequence and in accordance with said pre-programmed cut pattern.   
     
     
       10. The process as defined in claim 9 wherein each of said adjustable support media is angularly adjustable in response to each comparison of the scanned reference structure with the pre-programmed cut pattern for the hind foot, ham, front foot, and shoulder.